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The Tonga-class starships were an old design, one that went back 50 years. Had the Klingon invasion of Cardassian space never occurred, it is likely these ships would never have been used as warships. However, desperate times called for desperate measures and with dwindling resources after the blockade of Cardassia by the Klingons, Cardassian engineers resurrected the Tonga-class ships which served as effective blockade runners. They were also both cheap and easily manufactured as they could be produced with locally available raw materials. As they were an old design, newer technological systems such as the weapons were updated with current technology. In battle, the Tonga-class was slow and awkward yet heavily shielded. They were effective support cruisers that would pin an enemy starship in place until the larger, less numerous ships could arrive.